Pray for all those in our church family who have particular needs or are bereaved and also for our Young Church. Pray also for the apostolic mission of our church. If you would like prayers for yourself, for a person or situation of concern to you, please do ask at the end of the service. From TF. We have a growing number of our church family who are, in one way or another, suffering with acute or persistent health problems or generally needing our prayers for their health and wholeness. Please pray for Eileen Stubbington, Margaret Churchley, Eunice & Bob Byrom, Pearl Davies, Nona & Tony Deakin, Dee Brien, Judy Notley, Lyn Elliot, Bob Raley, Kate Raley, Caroline Chaston (school governor in chemo) and Bill Floyd. There are others who asked not to be named. If you ask me I can let you know more details. Please also thank and praise God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) for His presence in our lives and the Good News of His Gospel. Trevor FOUND IN CHURCH: A Pay Card was found in church last Sunday, 26th Oct. Please contact Gill in the office if you think this may belong to you. HAVANT PASSION PLAY will be holding its AGM on Tues, 18th Nov at 7.00pm , Havant Methodist Church. Nominations and applications to stand for election should be received by Tues 4th November. Details on the church noticeboard. Get in Touch: Church Office Tel: 023 9241 0111 (9 - 1pm Mon - Fri) E-mail: admin@saintjohnschurch. org.uk Web-site: www.saintjohnschurch. org.uk Need prayer? [email protected] Please send any items for the next newssheet to the church office by 10 am on Wednesday. SUNDAY, 2nd NOVEMBER 2014 4TH SUNDAY BEFORE ADVENT ALL SAINTS DAY 8.00am Holy Communion Minister: Revd Trevor Filtness 10.00am All Age Worship Leader: Zoe Skinner Welcome Scriptures: 1 John 4: 1-3 Matthew 5: 1-12 This Week Mon 27th 9.30 am 10-10.30am 7.30pm Tues 28th 9.00am Wed 29th 11.30am Thurs 30th 9.00am to Blue Moon Café Little Fishes Nursery Rhymes & Songs Informal Prayer Hour in the Upper Room Morning Prayer Holy Communion Morning Prayer Next Sunday 9th November: Remembrance Sunday 8.00am Holy Communion - Revd Trevor Filtness (Reader: Stuart Hall) 10.00am Remembrance Day Service - Revd Trevor Filtness Welcoming: Chris & Margaret Churchley. Readers: TF. Intercessions: TF. Sound Nick Granger-Brown and Visuals; Lizzy Gradidge PARISH THOUGHTS FOR NOVEMBER November is a month in which we remember. The significance of Remembrance Sunday this year is brought into sharp focus by the 100th anniversary of the beginning of WW1, the end of our 10 year intervention in Afghanistan and also the many current & vicious wars and violent behaviour throughout the world. We may seek to find political, economic, religious, power seeking murderers or numerous other reasons for constant war—is it really 20 centuries since Jesus walked this planet in his humanity ? - but in the end it comes down to the individual. What can we do as individuals? We can ignore or protest, we can participate, we can help those affected by war, we can pick up the pieces after a war but none of this seems to change our human nature. In this month we are also called to remember All Saints. Sadly not all of those designated saints by mankind have been remotely saintly! I prefer St Paul’ s view of saints in Ephesians 1:1b: To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus. A saint is one who is faithful in Christ Jesus. Simple! Surely therefore we must examine ourselves, individually, to understand what our faith teaches us about violence. Of course we are taught that we should reject violence by turning the other cheek and that the peacemakers are blessed. What then can we do about the bullies and murderers who create violence and war for their own ends; usually connected with power. For the sake of the weak and innocent we do have to stand up to these people and we must continue to honour and remember those who have died for us and others in this cause but as Christians we must continue to seek peace and always include peace in our Christian agenda. Remember the Beatitudes - Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God (Matt 5: 9). But this is of course CHRISTIAN RESOURCES EXHIBITION - Thursday, 27th November 2014 The first ever CRE South will take place at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Thursday 27th November for one day only, where visitors will enjoy a wide-ranging seminar programme. Speakers will include best-selling author, Jeff Lucas, and Paul Webber, Minister at Above Bar Church in Southampton. Tickets cost £2.00 online (£3.00 on the door). For further details and tickets, visit creonline.co.uk STUDY GROUP - NEW SERIES beginning this Wednesday, 5th November from 8.00 -9.30pm at Terry and Mandy Monahan’s home Surprised By Hope (Teaching series by Tom Wright). In six transforming, faith-inspiring sessions, biblical scholar Tom Wright opens our eyes to the amazing full scope of what God's Word has to say about the world to come and the world that is. Based on the best selling book 'Surprised By Hope' we will explore questions such as: - what is heaven really like? - is our main duty as Christians simply to help others get into heaven? - what hope does the gospel hold for this present life? - in what ways does God intend for us to experience that hope personally and spread its healing power to the world around us? Further details please ring Terry or Mandy on 023 9241 3260. WOOFS & WELLIES On Sunday 30th November there will be a Christmas themed walk in the grounds of Stansted House. Bring your doggie friends and raise money for the Rowans Hospice. Every dog will receive a medal! To register your interest, please contact Sophie Gunner at the Rowans Hospice on 023 9225 0001 ext 233, or email on : [email protected]. LIFE & SOUL: SHOW YOUR CHURCH IN ACTION Churchcare, in association with The Church Times, is calling photographers of all ages and experience to take part in a competition to celebrate and capture the vast array of worship and community activities that take place within the Church of England’s buildings and churchyards. The focus is on church activities and people, rather than buildings and places. They are looking for images which reveal any kind of human interaction within church spaces. The three categories are: Worship and Prayer; Community activities, and “Chelfie” (you, your church and its people - this one is for all ages). Entries for the first two categories will be separated into two age groups - under 16’s and 16’s and over. Entries will be judged on their composition, creativity and impact, and must include people! For full details please visit the Churchcare website at www.churchcare.co.uk THE CHRISTIAN INSTITUTE is hosting a meeting at Swanfield Chapel, Chichester thison Thursday Nov. 6th at 7:30pm. The three key issues they will address this time are Religious Liberty - the Institute continues to defend Christians in this country whose religious liberty have been threatened, GM babies - proposed changes in the law could allow for a baby to have genetic material from 3 or 4 persons, and the 'Named Persons' scheme - the Scottish government plans to appoint a state guardian for every child! Come and find out how these thing might impact you, your children and grandchildren. If you wish to, you will be informed of ways to take action and express your concerns to the people making policy decisions. I plan to attend and happy to give a lift if you'd like to come. Contact Valerie Palmer on 9241 3563. difficult to do. I mean, think about peace in our own individual lives. Are we at peace within our own families our friends? How quick are we to anger? How quick are we to make up; to seek forgiveness? Put all these local personal behaviours on a world stage and perhaps it is no wonder that violence predominates. I wish I could say that I was, as the Vicar, squeaky clean! I try to be but I don’t always succeed! So how do I try ‘put things right’? I pray and seek forgiveness and I use three tools besides the Bible to regain a peaceful perspective. I read and pray the Beatitudes (Matthew 5), the Lords Prayer and the Apostle’s Creed. Very Anglican but these ‘tools’ have stood the test of time; try it yourself when you feel personal peace difficult to achieve. Remember also Jesus words: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid (John 14: 27). Jesus wants us to be at peace in Him. So remember this month those who have died so that we might have peace and always, always pray for peace in the world. And surely it is our apostolic mission to take the Good News out so that all may become ‘faithful in Christ Jesus’ and thus put Jesus & peace at the top of the world agenda. Every Blessing Trevor QUIET DAY - ACORN CHRISTIAN HEALING CENTRE , BORDON Another one of these lovely days will take place on Thursday 11th December. A chance to take some time out for rest and reflection in lovely surroundings with a little thoughtful teaching - and only 20 minutes away! These days bet booked up so to avoid disappointment book online at [email protected] or by telephone on 01420 478121. If you would like any further information on the day, please ring Valerie Palmer on 9241 3563. You will have a special day in the Advent season. ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS GIFTS There are a number of Christian charities with ideas of how to make a meaningful gift this year on behalf of yourself or your friends. The Quicken Trust has a catalogue, as does Tearfund and Barnabus Fund, which assists persecuted Christians, to just three of many charities. Perhaps friends, who often have more than then need, would be delighted to have a gift given in their name to someone who will really benefit for it. If you would like some ideas or help in contacting charities, please contact Valerie Palmer on 9241 3563. SAMARITAN’S PURSE SHOEBOX APPEAL 2014 AT ST. JOHNS Once again, we will be collecting for the shoebox appeal this year. Leaflets are available in the church and centre giving guidelines as to what kind of things are suitable to go in the boxes. It costs just £3 (minimum donation) to cover the transportation costs per box and it can be enormous fun to fill a box, or two! Please drop your boxes into the office or bring them along to church on Sunday 16th November For further information please visit www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk CREATED & TRAIDCRAFT SALE AND COFFEE MORNING 8TH NOVEMBER 2014 - 10.00AM - 1.00PM ST. JOHNS CHURCH CENTRE An ideal Opportunity to do some early Christmas Shopping. Great house gift items, jewellery, accessories, cards, etc. All sales will directly benefit artists and producers in the developing world. Bring your friends and enjoy a morning together. POPPIES for Remembrance are on sale in church today. Every poppy sold helps The Royal British Legion to support the Armed Forces community, past and present, and their families. ON TUESDAY, 11TH NOVEMBER, the Union Flag will be lowered at 11.00am on the Village Green to commemorate the Armistice at the end of WW1. Please join us for a 2 minute silence.